Automatic plate inserter and ejec



CTOR

y 1952 P. R. SEWARD AUTOMATIC PLATE INSERTER AND EJE FOR EMBOSSINGMACHINES Criginal Filed March 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l w m E m 0 a W rE [A 1 J L 4 A w I I IIIW llll lll W H I I h I W INVENTOR- i'ii'c'y- RJ'tward AAW May 27, 1952 R SEWARD Re. 23,508

AUTOMATIC PLATE INSERTER AND EJECTOR FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES OriginalFiled March 22, 1948- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. 72217. y]? Jzuazd y1952 P. R. SEWARD AUTOMATIC PLATE INSERTER AND EJECTOR FOR EMBOSSINGMACHINES (Iriginal Filed March 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet a N 9 9. 5 Au 4?m 0 n a r 14 f x m a 2' J 9V 1 5, .l n 4 4 M J i I J i 7 7 7 7 "a, I 0\1 n. 5 a} x a 1/ z/ i u I i 3 H @w 2 4 0 I. 1 M... 3 2 0 a. M 9A1 w n 2w s 5 M m m NW H i 2 r 9 aiaw/ 7 Mm m f W di M c/ y 27, 1952 P. R.SEWARD Re. 23,508

AUTOMATIC PLATE INSERTER AND EJECTOR FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES OriginalFiled March 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Perky 71 .Jlzvazvi BY y 27, 1952P. R. SEWARD Re. 23,508

AUTOMATIC PLATE INSERTER AND EJECTOR FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES OriginalFiled March 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. 7%)? .75. JewnnReissued May 27, 1952 AUTOMATIC PLATE INSERTER AND EJEC- TORFOREMBOSSING MACHINES Percy R. Seward, deceased, late of Minneapolis,

Minn., by Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Wilmington, Del.,assignee Original No. 2,534,834, dated December 19, 1950, Serial No.16,238, March 22, 1948. Application for reissue December 17, 1951,Serial No. 261,992

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: appears in the original patent butforms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italicsindicates the additions made by reissue.

27 Claims.

My present invention relates to automatic plate inserting and ejectingmechanism for embossing machines.

It is well known that it is now a hand operation to insert blank platesinto an embossing machine and remove the same therefrom, which is a slowand tedious process.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a highly efficientautomatic plate inserting and ejecting mechanism for embodiment in amachine for use in embossing indicia, such as names and addresses, uponplates of zinc or similar material, which plates in turn are used forimprinting the names and addresses upon newspapers, magazines andsimilar mailing pieces.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription, reference being had to the drawings.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the noveldevices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

of the invention, and also an attachment that 5 includes the balance ofthe complete embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a left side elevational view of the machine in which the plateholderis in plateejecting position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary right-hand elevational view of the machine withthe plate holder as shown in Fig. 3;

the rear end portion of the attachment with the ejector plate in itsprojected position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view principally in vertical section takenthrough the machine from,

the front to the rear thereof and showing the plate holder in anembossed plate-holding position;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view partly in plan and partly in sectiontaken on the irregular line Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view partlyin plan and partly in section taken on the line 8-8 of Fi 3;

Fig". 9 is a view principally in side elevation A Fig. is a fragmentarybottom plan view of 2 with the carriage track sectioned on the line 9-9of Fig. 8;

Fig. is a fragmentary detail view partly in side elevation and partly insection taken on the line lO-I0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the lower jaw of the plate holder;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view principally in front elevation with someparts sectioned on the line l2l2 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of one of the blank plates;

Fig. 14 is a rear elevational view of the plate holder holding andtilting device; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail view principally in vertical sectiontaken on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 2, on a greatly enlarged scale, showingan embossed plate held by the plate holder in position to be ejectedinto the hopper and also showing, by means of broken lines, the plateholder tilted into a position and the upper jaw opened to receive ablank plate when moved toward the same.

The numeral l6 indicates a mounted carriage of an embossing machinehaving a portion-of my invention embodied therein. This carriage I6 ismounted to run on a fragment of the track ii that is a right-handextension of the track for the embossing machine. For the purpose ofthis case, it is not thought necessary to show the embossing machineexcept for the parts shown in the drawings.

The frame of the carriage I6 includes a pair of side members l8 rigidlyconnected by upper, intermediate and lower crosstie members designatedby the numerals I9, and 2|, respectively. The track IT, as shown, is arectangular bar and integral therewith is an upstanding rail 32 insetfrom the inner side of the track [1. Both side members [8 are channeledat 23 to receive the bottom portion of the track H on which they slide.

A pair of wheels 24, in tandem, are arranged to run on the'top of thetrack I! at the side of the track rail 22, a second pair of wheels 25,in tandem, is arranged to run on the front of the track I! near thebottom thereof, and a third pair of smaller wheels 26 and 21, in tandem,is also arranged to run on the back of the track I! between the wheels24. The pairs of wheels 24 and 25 and the two wheels 26 and 21 are alljournaled in bearings on the side members I8 and the wheels 25, 26 and21 turn about vertical axes. The wheel 21, which is outwardly of thecarriage IE, at the right thereof, performs an important by anupstanding stud 36.

function, aside from that of guiding the carriage |6 on the track, aswill presently appear.

The carriage I6 is moved to the right from the embossing machine intothe position shown in the drawings, by a spring 26, of the clock springtype, wound on a narrow drum 29 between peripheral flanges thereon. Thespring 28, at its outer end, is attached to the right-hand side memberI8 by a separable coupling 36. The drum 29 is journaled at 3| on thetrack I! at the front thereof. The spring 28 is under strain at alltimes to draw the carriage I6 toward the drum 29 and, when in theposition shown in the drawings, holds the same against a stop 32 on abearing block 33 on the track l1 and projecting forwardly therefrombetween the carriage l6 and the drum 29. The carriage I6 is manuallymoved from its position shown in the drawings to the embossing machineand places the spring 28 under tension.

The carriage I6 is automatically locked, in the position shown in thedrawings and against the stop 3'2, by a latch 34. This latch 34 has aforwardly projecting elongated body member 35 that rests, at its innerend portion, on the bearing block 33 and is intermediately pivotedthereto Integral with the outer end of the body member 35 is an arm 31that projects toward the carriage l6 and has on its free end a dependingdetent 38, the face of which is curved downwardly and inwardly to afforda cam surface 36. A pair of set screws 46 have threaded engagement witha pair of outstanding ears 4| on opposite sides of the body member 35and impinge the track By adjusting the set screws 46, the body member 35may be pivotally moved on the stud 36 to adjust the detent 38. It willbe noted that the body member 35 and ears 4| are spaced from the track Hto permit pivotal movement of said body member.

(Jo-operating with the detent 33 is a latch lug 42 on a hub 43 pivotedon a fixed shaft 44, the end portions of which are mounted in the sidemembers I8. This latch lug 42 has a cam surface 45 and extends outwardlyunder the arm 31 back of the detent 38 and is released from said detentby a downwardly swinging movement about the axis of the shaft 44. Thelatch lug 42 is manually released from the detent 38 by means of alever-acting thumb-piece 46 intermediately pivoted on the opposite endportion of the shaft 44 from the hub 43. This thumbpiece 46 extendsforwardly of the shaft 44 and its inner or short end portion is rigidlyconnected to the hub 43, on theopposite side thereof from the latch lug42, by a lifting bar 41 that normally rests on the crosstie bar 2|. Acoiled spring 48 is anchored to a lug 49 on the crosstie bar 2| andattached to a lug 56 on the lifting bar 41 and yieldingly holds said baron the crosstie bar 2|. Underlying the thumb-piece 46 is a finger holdmounted on the shaft 44 and attached to the left-hand side member |8 bya screw 52. This finger hold 5| affords a base of resistance for theoperators hand while operating the thumb-piece 46 to release the latchlug 42 from the detent 36.

During the final movement of the carriage l6 from the embossing machineto its position shown in the drawings, the cam surface 45 on the latchlug 42 engages the cam surface 39 on the detent 38 and cams said latchlug downwardly so that it passes under the detent 38, against thetension of the spring 48, and is then lifted by said sprin intointerlocking engagement with the detent 36.

Mounted on the side members l8, back of the crosstie bar 2|, is aratchet bar 53 that forms a part of the carriage escapement, but for thepurpose of this case it will not be necessary to consider the same.

A holder 54, for the plate a to be embossed, is shown in Fig. 15, andincludes a fixed lower jaw 55 and a movable upper jaw 56. This pair ofjaws 55 and 56 horizontally disposed parallelto the track I! are ofsubstantially the same length as the plate a and project rearwardly oversaid track. On the rear longitudinal edge portion of the lower jaw 55,at the corners thereof. is a pair of long hinge lugs 51 and 58, thelatter being at the right. The hinge lug 58 is bifurcated and the prongsthereof are designated by the numeral 59. The hinge lug 51 and theprongs 59 of the hinge lug 56 have aligned bores through which a rockshaft 66 extends for relative turning movement. This rock shaft 66, atits end portions, is journaled in bearings 6|, on a carrier 62 for theplate holder 54.

The upper jaw 56 has on its rear longitudinal edge portion a pair ofhinge lugs 63 having aligned bores through which a long hinge pin 64loosely extends and has its end portions fixed in the hinge lugs 51 and58. This hinge pin 64 extends parallel to the rock shaft 66 between saidrock shaft and the jaws 55 and 56. The hinge lugs 63 are extended toafford a pair of cam arms 65 that extend transversely over the rockshaft 66, rest thereon and normally hold the upper jaw 55 closed.

The lower jaw 55 is also provided with a pair of laterally spaced hingelugs 55 between the hinge lugs 63 and provided with pairs of alignedbores through which the rock shaft 66 and the hinge pin 64 extend.

On the upper face of the lower jaw 55 is a fiat stop bead 66 that isparallel to the outer longitudinal edge of said jaw and spaced inwardlythereof. The purpose of the stop head 66 is to limit the movement of theplate a between the jaws 55-56. A coiled spring 61 interposed betweenthe jaws 55-56 is held in bore-like seats 68 in the opposing faces ofsaid jaws and under strain to open the upper jaw 56. A V spring 69 isprovided for ejecting a plate a held between the jaws 5556 when theupper jaw 56 is opened. This spring 69 lies on the face of thejaw 55 andis rigidly secured, at its intermediate portion, to said jaw asindicated at 16. The free end portions of the diverging arms of thespring 66 are bent, just back of the stop bead 66, into parallelarrangement and extend loosely through transverse holes H in said beadand outward of said bead to substantially the longitudinal edge of thejaw 55, see Fig. 11.

Adjusting screws 12 extend through the lower jaw 55, have threadedengagement therewith and impinge the plate holder carrier 62 and supportsaid jaw therefrom. By manipulating the screws 12, the lower jaw 55 maybe moved about the axis of the rock shaft 66 to raise or lower its frontlongitudinal edge portion. The rock shaft 66, under each cam arm 65, isflattened to afford a cam surface 13 which, when said arm rests fiatthereon, permit the upper jaw 56 to be opened by the spring 61. 7

On the left-hand end portion of the rock shaft 66, outwardly of thecarriage I6, is a hand crank 14. A coiled spring 15 anchored at 16 tothe lower jaw 55 and attached to an inwardly projecting pin H on theouter end portion of the hand crank 14, normally holds the rock shaft 60as positioned in Fig. 6 and shown by full lines in Fi 15. I

A handle 18 is provided for holding the lower jaw 55, with the adjustingscrews 12 in contact with the carrier 62, from lifting when operatingthe hand crank 14 to turn the rock shaft 60 into a position in which thecam arms 65 rest flat on the cam surfaces 13 and thus release the sameto permit the upper jaw 56 to be opened by the spring 61. to a bearingblock 19, between the hinge lugs 55 through which the rock shaft 60extends for relative turning movements. This bearing block 19 is held bythe hinge lugs 55* against axial movement on the rock shaft 60 and hasin opposite sides thereof grooves 80 that extend transversely over therock shaft 60. The lower or inner end portion of the handle 18 is infiat engagement with the outer face of the bearing block 19 and has apair of laterally projecting flat prongs BI that extend longitudinallythrough the grooves 90 and rearwardly thereof over upstanding bosses 55on the hinge lugs 55. A latch 82 is provided for detachably holding thehandle with its prongs 8I interlocked with the bearing block 19. Thislatch 92 is in the form of an angle member 83, the upright member 84 ofwhich is in contact with the inner side of the handle 18 and is attachedthereto by a pivot 85. The horizontal member 86 of the latch 82 rests onthe top of the bearing block 19 and has a downturned flange 81 thatoverlaps the opposite side of the bearing block 19 from the handle 18.The latch member 84 has on its free outer end portion a lip extension 88that normally extends under the head on the stud 89 on the handle 19.This latch member 84 has on its pivoted end portionan upstandingfinger-piece 90 by which the latch 82 may be moved pivotally to lift theflange 81 above the bearing block 19 and also lift the lip extension 88out of interlocking engagement with the headed stud 89. The handle 18,from the bearing block 19, extends obliquely upwardly and outwardly andits upper end portion is closely positioned to the hand crank 14.

While the operator is turning the rock shaft 60, by means of the handcrank 14, to release the cam arms 55 and permit the upper jaw 56 toopen, he is at the same time holding the handle 18 with its prongs BIpressed against the bosses 55 and thus prevents the lower jaw 55 fromlifting, or, in other words, prevents the plate holder 54 from turningabout the axis of the rock shaft 60.

At the limit of the movement of the hand crank 14, in turning the rockshaft 60 to release the closed upper jaw 56, a short radial arm 9I onthe hub 92 thereof engages a crank pin 93 on a crank arm 94 on the hingelug 51.

Continued movement of the hand crank 14 acting through the crank arm 94will tilt the entire plate holder 54 into a position in which it isstopped by the engagement of an adjustable screw 95 having threadedengagement with a depending member 19 on the bearing block 19, with thecarrier 62.

The carrier 62 includes a flat body member 96 that extends transverselyof the carriage I6 and an outwardly projecting side member 91 on theright-hand end portion of the body member 96. The outer end portion ofthe side member 96 is reduced in width to afford a handle 98 having onits outer end a finger-piece. 99. On the inner longitudinal edge portionof the body This handle 18 is detachably secured member 96 is adepending flange I00. The can rier 62 is slidably mounted, for movementtoward and from the track I1, on three horizontal pins IOI that projecttoward said track I1. Two of these pins IOI are laterally spaced andsecured one to each of the frame side members I8 and extend throughtransverse holes in the flange I00. The other pin IN is integral withthe right-hand frame side member I8 and extends through a hole in anupstanding bearing I02 on the handle 98.

The following connections are provided for sliding the plate holdercarrier 62 on the pins IOI and for retracting the same, to wit: a rockshaft I03 having reduced end portions, is journaled in the frame sidemembers I8. Integral with the rock shaft I03 is a pair of laterallyspaced arms I04 that project toward the track [1. 0n the upper face ofeach arm I04 is a ratchet tooth I05 that meshes with ratchet teeth I06on the under side of the carrier body member 96. The rock shaft I03 isprovided, at its longitudinal center, with an outwardly projectinghandle I01 having a knurled outer end portion I00. A coiled spring I09,anchored to a depending pin IIO on the handle I01 and attached to a lugIII on the under side of the carrier body member 96, yieldingly holdsthe carrier 62 in its retracted position.

Underlying the handle 98 is a finger hold II2 for one of the operator'sfingers while sliding the carrier 62 on the pins IN by means of thefinger-piece 99. This finger hold Il2 has an expanded inner end portionthrough which the respective end portions of the rock shaft I03 extendand is held from turning on said shaft by a screw H3 in the right-handend member I8. The spring I06, in addition to retracting the carriageI6, yielding holds the arms I04 with their ratchet teeth I05 inengagement with the ratchet teeth I06 on the carrier 62.

On the opposite side of the track l1 from the carriage I6 is anattachment that embodies the balance of my invention. This attachmentincludes a housing II4 on a bed plate II5 supported on a pair ofbrackets II6 rigidly secured to the track I1 by screws I I1. This bedplate I I5 is secured to the brackets II6 by screws H5. The housing II4includes a pair of laterally spaced rectangular side members II8 thatare perpendicular to the track I1. A large. rectangular member H9 isinterposed between the side members H9 at the front end portions thereofand secured thereto by screws I20 and dowel pins I2I.

Formed in the body member H9 is a hopper I22 that extends completelythrough said body member, from top to bottom thereof, and it alsoextends completely through the bed plate H5. The side members II8 extendmaterially rearwardly of the bed plate H5 and are connected at theirrear end portions by a crosstie bar I23 that extends thereunder and issecured thereto by screws I24.

The housing II4 also includes a top member I25 having in its front endportion, over the body member I I9, a chamber I26 for holding the lowerend portion of a stack of plates a, as will presently appear. In therear end portion of the top member I25 in-an aperture I21 that extendsthe full distance between the side members H8. The top member I25 isdetachably secured to the side members II8 by screws I28.

Spacing strips [29 are interposed between the side members H9 and thetop member I25 and are held in place by the screws I28 which extendtherethrough. It is important to note that the spacing strips I23 areinset from the inner faces of the side members III! to form ways I36,for a purpose which will presently appear.

A magazine I3I for holding a stack of plates a is mounted on the topmember I25 with its lower end in registration with the chamber I26. Thismagazine I3I is in a slightly rearwardly inclined position :and has onits lower end outturned flanges I32 secured by screws I33 tothe topmember I25. The central portion of the front member of the magazine I3Iis open from the top to the bottom thereof, as indicated at I34. Thisopening I34 also extends through the top member I25 between the chamberI26 and the front thereof, as indicated at I35. The hopper I 22, thechamber I26 and the magazine I3I are all of the same length and saidhopper and chamber are of the same width. Plates a in the magazine I3Iand the chamber I25 have a working clearance therewith so that theygravity feed therein.

The openings I34 and I35 permit inspection to see if the plates a arefeeding properly and the number of plates in the hopper I22 and thechamber I26. The opening I35 also permits inspection of the hopper I22.

Attached to the body member I I3, at the outer face therewith, is aplate I36 having in the intermediate portion at the top thereof anoutturned lip I37, the inner surface of which is inwardly and downwardlyinclined and leads into the hopper I22. The back wall of the hopper I22is flat and slightly downwardly and rearwardly inclined while the frontwall thereof is downwardly and rearwardly inclined on an angle thatrestricts the bottom of the hopper I22 to a narrow passageway throughthe bed plate II5, so

that embossed plates a precipitated therein from g the plate holder 54are turned from a horizontal position into a vertical position. It isimportant to note that the outer longitudinal edge of the lower jaw 55is very close to the lip I3'I when the plate holder is in plate-ejectingposition spout I30 has at its lower end portion, at the.

front thereof, an escape opening I4I for the plates a. The front memberof the spout I38, above the escape opening MI, is downwardly andrearwardly inclined at I42 to further restrict the width of the spoutI38 and more closely hold the plates in vertical positions.

The spout I33, at its lower end, is attached to a horizontal forwardlyprojecting long tray I43 having on the upper edges of its side membersnarrow intermediate flanges I44, and the outer end of said tray is open.The side members of the spout I38, at the escapeopening I4I, areextended outwardly to afford guide members I45 for the plates a that arein the same planes as the side members of the tray I43, see Fig. 3.Slidably mounted in the tray I43 is an abutment I46 for the plates a andhas, on its end, shoulders I41 that extend under the flanges I44 thathold the abutment I46 in the tray I43. The inner face I46 of theabutment I46 is upwardly and on the top of a stack of plates a in saidmagazine in close contact, the one with the other, and assists in thefeeding of the same.

The plates a in the chamber I26 are successively removed, the lowermostfrom the bottom of the stack, by an ejector blade I5I slidably mountedin the ways I30 and on which ejector plate the stack rests.

The longitudinal edge portions of the plate a are rounded and thickenedby folding the same upwardly and inwardly upon themselves and thendownwardly offsetting the same until the upper ply is in the plane ofthe body of the plate to afford reinforcing ribs b. Inwardly of each ribb the plate a is upset to form on the upper side thereof a longitudinalbead c that extends the full length thereof parallel to said rib. Ineach end of the plate a is a notch d.

Formed in the ejector plate I5I is a transverse groove I52 in which therear rib b of the lowermost plate a in the chamber I26 extends when theejector plate I5I is retracted. The ejector plate I5I, at its frontlongitudinal edge, engages the back of the front rib b and thus holdsthe lowermost plate a for ejection from the chamber I26. By reference toFig. 15, it will be noted that the under side of the top member I25 israbbeted at I53, above the respective way I30, to afford workingclearance for the beads c on the plate a being ejected.

A friction ball I54 is held in a bore I55 in the top member I25 over therabbet I53. The bore I 55 at its lower end is slightly contracted tohold the ball I54 therein. A coiled spring I55 in the' bore I 55 iscompressed between the bottom of the bore I55 and the ball I54 andyieldingly holds said ball projected into'the rabbet I53 to engage aplate a being ejected and steadies the same.

Formed in the left-hand side member I3, below the respective spacingstrip I29, is an entrance passageway I51, that is open at the front ofsaid side member for an embossed plate a being returned from theembossing machine by the plate holder 54. The bottom of the passagewayI5! is flush with the upper edge of the lip I3'I. A leaf spring I58,attached to the left-hand side member IIS on the outer side thereof,extends obliquely into the passageway I51 to steady an embossed plate abeing moved through said passageway by the plate holder 54.

In the top member I25, above the left-hand spacing strip I23 and thepassageway I51, is a second passageway I59 for a plate a being moved bythe plate holder 54 to the embossing machine, see Fig. 3. It will benoted that the top of the passageway I53 is outwardly and downwardlyinclined for the passage thereunder of a correspondingly inclined platea held by the plate holder 54 when positioned as shown by broken linesin Fig. 15 and being moved thereby to the embossing machine.

The following connections are provided for moving the ejector plate I5Iin the ways toward the plate holder 54, to wit: a bell-crank I60 ispivoted, at its elbow, to the bed plate II5 on its under side by a screwstud I6I. The two arms of the bell-crank I60 are designated by the numerals I62 and I63, the former extending forwardly at the left of thehousing H4 and the latter extending transversely of said housing. Ashort wide lever I64 is pivotally attached by a screw stud I65 to thefree end portion of the arm I62. This lever I64 extends toward theembossing machine and has in its free end portion a cam surface I66 anda concave seat I61 for a wheel 21 on the carriage I6 that faces thetrack I1. A sear spring I68 has one of its end portions attached at I69to the arm I62 and its other arm is attached at I69 to the lever I64with its intermediate portion coiled about the screw stud I65. Thisspring I68 is under strain to swing the lever I64 toward the track I1and when the wheel 21 is out of engagement with the lever I64, saidspring yieldingly holds the lever I64 against the track I1 as a stop. Ashort link I10 connects the bell-crank arm I83 to the ejector plate IIand has on one of its end portions a'depending pin I1I on a block I12and its other end portion is pivotally attached to an upstanding pin I13secured to the outer end portion of the bell-crank arm I63. The pivotpins Ill and I13 work in a longitudinal slot I14 in the rear end portionof the bed plate H5 at the transverse center thereof and the link Islidably rests on said bed plate.

The ejector plate I5I is retracted by a long coiled spring I 15 anchoredto a bracket I16, rearwardly of the housing H4 and secured to thecrosstie bar I63, and attached to one of the screws I11 that secure theblock I12 to the ejector plate I 5!. The spout I38, at its lower end, isheld by an oblique brace I18 to an integral part of the bracket I16.This brace I18, at its lower end portion, is fitted in an invertedchannel member I19 on the lower end of the spout I 38 at the backthereof and secured thereto by stove bolts I80. The brace I18 extendslongitudinally under the tray I 43 at the transverse center thereof as areinforcing member I8I and is secured thereto at its outer end portionby a holder I82.

A precipitated plate a in the spout I38 from the plate holder 54 isintercepted and then released by a long upright flat bar I83, the upperend portion of which is extended horizontally outwardly to afiord a headmember I84 under a long, flat horizontal shelf I85 for sliding contacttherewith. This shelf I85 is rigidly secured at its inner end portion tothe back member of the spout I 38 and its inner end portion isupturned-into contact with the brace I18 and secured thereto'by a screwI86. The bar I83, at its lower end portion, extends forwardly andslightly downwardly through an aperture I81 in the back member ofthe-spout I38 to afford a cut-off I88 in said spout which intercepts aplate a precipitated in the spout I38. The bar I83 from the cut-off I 88extends downwardly and slightly rearwardly to afford a follower I89 thatpushes a plate a released from the cut-off I88 into the tray I43. As aplate a is moved into the tray I43, the flange I44 extends through thenotches d in the plate a and holds said plate interlocked with thetrayI43.

Slidably mounted on the shelf I 85 is a block I90 secured to the headmember I84 by a pair of screws I III that extend through holes in saidhead member and a longitudinal slot I92 in the shelf I 85 and havethreaded engagement with the block I90. On the front end portion of theblock I90 is an upstanding abutment I93 that is in engagement with thefree end portion of the bellorank arm I62 to be pushed thereby when theejector plate I5I is being projected, see Figs. 5 and 6. A coiled springI94 anchored to the brace I18 and attached to one of the screws I9I inthe block I is under strain to pull the bar I83 away from the spout I38,withdraw the cut-off I88 from said spout, release the plate aintercepted thereby, and hold the abutment I93 against the bell-crankarm I62.

OPERATION With the parts positioned, as shown in the drawings (in whichan embossed plate is being held by the plate holder 54 to be ejectedinto the hopper I22 and a blank plate has been removed from under thestack of plates in the chamber I26 and the magazine I3I by the ejectorplate I5I and positioned to be inserted into the plate holder 54 afterthe embossed plate has been ejected), the operator holds the plateholder 54, by means of the handle 18, to prevent the same from tiltingabout the axis of the rock shaft 60 and he then moves the hand crank 14toward said handle against the tension of the spring 15 and into itsposition shown in Fig. 3. This movement of the hand crank 14 rotates therock shaft 60 to position the cam surfaces 13 under the crank arms 65 torelease the same and permit the spring 61 to open the upper jaw 56.

At the time the jaw 56 opens, the spring 69, which has been held undertension by the embossed plate held by the plate holder 54, ejects saidplate horizontally into the hopper I22. As the ejected plate drops, bythe force of gravity, into the hopper I22, the novel shape of saidhopper turns the plate into a vertical position and directs the sameinto the spout I38. At this time, the bar I83 is being held by thebell-crank I60, which, in turn, holds the abutment against the tensionof the spring I94 with the cut-01f I88 extending across the spout I38and intercepts and holds the embossed plate precipitated in said spout.

At the limit of the movement of the hand crank 14 in turning the rockshaft 60, as shown in Fig. 3, the arm 9| on the hub 92 of said handcrank has been brought into contact with the crank pin 93 on the crankarm 94 on the lower jaw 55. At this time the operator, while stillholding the handle 18 and the hand crank 14, continues the movement ofsaid hand crank in the same direction and thereby tilts the plate holder54 through the connections 9|, 93 and 94 until stopped by the engagementof the screw 95 with the body member 96 of the plate holder carrier 62.This further movement of the hand crank 14 and the handle 18 turns therock shaft 60 about its longitudinal axis so that the upper jaw 56continues to still remain open.

Next, the operator moves the plate .carrier 62 by sliding the same onthe pins IN by means of the fingerpiece 99, to move the plate holder 54from its dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 15, toward the blankplate positioned by the ejector plate I5I. This movement of the plateholder 54 inserts the outer longitudinal edge portion of the blankplate, positioned by the ejector plate I5I, between the open jaws 55 and56. As

the blank plate enters between the open jaws 55 and 56, it engages thespring 69 at its free ends and places the same under tension. As the carrier 62 is moved toward the blank plate, one of the ratchet teeth I05slides over the ratchet tooth I06 which is a sufficient movement of the1 1 plate holder carrier 82 to position the plate holder 54 to receive ablank plate.

Next, the operator releases the hand crank I4, which is returned by thespring I to normal position, and at the same time turns the rock shaft60 into a position in which the cam arms 55 are operated by the camsurfaces I3 to close the upper jaw 56 and clamp the blank plate betweenthe two jaws 55 and 56. Next, the operator operates the thumbpiece 46 torelease the latch 34 and manually move the carriage I5 toward theembossing machine, against the tension of the spring 28, which carriesthe blank plate held by the plate holder 54 through the passageway I59,and'then operates the handle III! to release the ratchet tooth I06 fromthe engaged ratchet tooth I05 and permit the tensioned spring I09 toreturn the carrier 62 to normal position.

During the initial movement of the carriage I6 toward the embossingmachine, the wheel 21 moves out of engagement with the lever I04 andthus releases the bell-crank I60, allowing the tensioned spring II5 tomove said bell-crank into a position to retract the ejector plate I5 I.While the ejector plate I5I is being retracted, the tensioned spring I54retracts the bar I83 and withdraws the cut-off I88 from the spout I33and allows the intercepted plate to drop onto the bottom of the trayI43.

During the next cycle of operation of the machine, the wheel 21, duringthe final movement of the carriage I6 and just before it engages thestop 32 and is automatically held by the latch 34, operates the leverI64, which, inturn, operates the bell-crank I60 to project the ejectorplate ISI. This projecting movement of the abutment. I93, acting throughthe block I90 and screws I9.l, slides the head I84 on the shelf I85 andthus moves the bar I83 toward the spout I33 which, in turn, moves thecut-off I 88 into the spout I38 to intercept the next precipitatedembossed plate.

At the time the cut-01f I88 enters the spout I38, the pusher I80 pressesthe last precipitated plate and moves all. of the plates now in the trayas well as the abutment I46. It may be assumed that the space betweenthe pusher I89 and the abutment I48- is filled with embossed plates.

It may be here. stated that the blank plates are always injected intothe plate holder 54 in the same order and likewise the embossed platesejected from said holder are always moved into the tray I43 in the sameorder.

I claim:

1. In a [machine]. device of the class described, [a track,] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a track, a plate holder mounted on the carriagefor relative movement and having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, a springunder strain to open the movable jaw, means for positioning a platerelative to the plate holder, said plate holder being manually movableto insert the positioned plate between the jaws, and spring-operatedmeans normally holding the movable jaw closed and locked closed, saidspring-operated means being manually operable to unlock and open themovable jaw to receive the positioned plate and, when released, closingthe movable jaw onto the plate and locking said jaw closed.

2. In a [machine] device of the class described, [a track,] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a track, a plate holder mounted on the carriagefor relative movement and having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, a springunder strain to open the movable. jaw, automatic means for positioning aplate relative to the plate holder, said plate holder being manuallymovable to insert the positioned plate between the jaws, andspringoperated means normally holding the movable jaw closed and lockedclosed, said spring-operated means being manually operable to unlock andopen the movable jaw to receive the positioned plate, and, whenreleased, closing the movable jaw onto the plate and locking said jawclosed.

3. In a [machine] device of the class described, [a track,] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a track, a plate holder mounted on the carriageforrelative movement and having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, a springunder strain to open the movable jaw, automatic means actuated by thecarriage for positioning a plate relative to the plate holder, saidplate holder being manually movable to insert the positioned platebetween the jaws, and spring-operated means normally holding the movablejaw closed and locked closed, said spring-operated means being manuallyoperable to unlock and open the movable jaw to receive the positionedplate and, when released, closing the movable jaw onto the plate andlocking said jaw closed.

4. In a [machine] device of the class described, Ea track] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a track, a plate holder mounted on the carriagefor relative horizontal bodily movement and for tilting movement in avertical plane, said plate holder having a fixed, jaw and a movable jaw,a spring under strain to open the movable jaw, means for positioning aplate relative to the plate holder, said plate holder being manuallymoved and tilted to insert; the, positioned plate between the jaws, andspring-operated means normally holding the movable jaw closed and lockedclosed, said spring-operated means being manually operable to unlock andopen the mov-- able jaw to receive the positioned plate and,

when released, closing the movable, jaw onto. the plate and locking saidjaw closed.

5. In a [machine] dev ce of the class described,

. a magazine for holding a stack of plates. [a

track,] a carriage arranged to run on [the] a track, a plateholdermountedon the carriage for relative movement and having a fixedjawv and a movable jaw, a spring under strain to open the movable jaw,automatic means for removing the lowermost plate in the stack and:positioning. the same relative to the plate holder, said "plate holderbeing manually movable to insert. the positioned plate between the jaws,and" spring and open the movable jaw to receive the. posi-v tioned plateand. when released, closingthe movable jaw onto the'p'late and lookingsaid jawclosed.

6. In a [machine] device of the class described, [a track,] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a track, a plate holding on the car-riagehaving a movable jaw and a plate ejector spring, means for positioning aplate relative to the plate holder, means for operating the plate holderto insert the positioned plate between the plate holder and its jaw,saidejector spring being arranged to be placed under tensionby theinserted plate, and means for operating the jawto hold the insertedplate which, in turn, holdsthe ejector spring inactive.

7. In a [machine] deviceofthe class described, [a tracla] a carriagearranged to runon [the] a track, a carrier mounted on the carriage forrelative movement, a normally horizontal plate holder mounted on thecarrier to tilt about a horizontal axis and having a fixed lower jaw anda movable upper jaw hinged thereto, a spring under strain to open themovable jaw, springoperated means normally holding the movable jawclosed and locked closed, and automatic means for positioning a platerelative to the plate holder, said spring-operated means being manuallyheld from tilting and operated to unlock and open the movable jaw andthen tilted and the carrier moved to insert the positioned plate betweenthe jaws, said spring-operated means, when released, locking and closingthe movable jaw onto the plate.

8. The structure defined in claim 7, further including a hopper belowthe plate-positioning means and into which hopper the plate held by thejaws is discharged by manually operating the spring-operated means torelease the upper jaw and permit the same to be opened by the spring.

9. The structure defined in claim '7 in which the spring-operated meansis a rock shaft, a hand crank on the-shaft, cam connections between therock shaft and the movable jaw for closing said jaw, a spring normallyholding the rock shaft with the cam connections positioned to close theupper jaw, and normally inoperative connections, between the plateholder and the rock shaft, operable after the rock shaft has been movedto set the cam connections in position to release the upper jaw andpermit the spring to open the same, to tilt the plate holder.

10. The structure defined in claim '7 in which the spring-operated meansis a rocker shaft, 2. hand crank on the shaft, cam connections betweenthe rocker shaft and the movable jaw for closing said jaw, a springnormally holding the rocker shaft with the cam connections positioned toclose the upper jaw, and normally inoperative connections, between theplate holder and the rocker shaft, operable after the rocker shaft hasbeen moved to set the cam connections in position to release the upperjaw and permit the spring to open the same, to tilt the plate holder,the means for holding the plate holder being a handle on the lower jawhaving an extension substantially radial relative to the rocker shaftpositioned by the hand crank to prevent the same from being tilted.

11. The structure defined in claim 7, further including a stop on thehandle engageable with the carrier to limit the tilting of the plateholder.

12. The structure defined in claim 1, further including an automaticcatch for holding the carriage with the plate holder in operativeposition relative to the plate-positioning means.

13. The structure defined in claim 1, further including a spring formoving the carriage toward the plate-positioning means, and a stop andan automatic latch for holding the carriage with the plate holder inanoperative position relative to the plate-positioning means.

14. In a [machine] device of the class described, [a track,] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a track, a plate holder on the carriage havinga relatively fixed lower jaw and a hinged upper jaw, said fixed jawhaving a stop shoulder spaced inwardly of its outer edge, an ejectorspring held relative to the lower jaw back of the stop shoulder andhaving end portions extending through apertures in the stop shoulder andforwardly thereof, means for positioning a plate relative to the plateholder, means for operating the plate holder for inserting thepositioned plate between the jaws and against the stop shoulder andwhich plate in turn moves the end portions of the ejector springinwardly and places the same under tension, and means for closing theupper jaw to hold the inserted plate between the jaws which, in turn,hold the ejector spring under tension.

15. In a [machine] device of the class described, [a track,] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a track, a plate holder on the carriage,automatic means for positioning a plate relative to the plate holder, ahopper, means for operating the plate holder to insert the positionedplate therein, said plate holder being manually operable to dischargethe held plate into the hopper, a tray, a spout for conveying a platefrom the hopper to the tray, including automatic means for interceptinga plate in the spout and then releasing the same, and automatic meansfor feeding a released plate into the tray.

18. In a [machine] device of the class described, [a track] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a track, a plate holder on the carriage,automatic means for positioning a plate relative to the plate holder,means for operating the plate holder to insert the positionedplatehorizontally therein, a hopper, a tray, a spout leading from thehopper to the tray, said plate holder being manually operable todischarge the horizontal plate therein, said hopper being constructedand arranged to turn the horizontal plate therein into a verticalposition and direct the same into the spout, which holds the same in alike position and deposits the-same edgewise in the tray, and automaticmeans for feeding plates from the spout laterally intothe tray.

1'7. In a [machine] device of the class described, [a track,] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a track, a plate holder on the carriage, amagazine for holding a stack of plates, a springretracted ejector plateon which the stack of plates is supported, said ejector plate havingmeans for holding the lowermost plate in the stack for movementtherewith, means including a bell-crank actuated by the carriage foroperating the ejector plate to position the plate held thereby relativeto the plate holder, means for operating the plate holder to insert thepositioned plate therein, and a hopper, said plate holder being manuallyoperable to discharge the held plate into the hopper.

18. The structure defined in claim 17, further including a tray, and aspout leading from the hopper to the tray.

19. The structure defined in claim 17, further including a tray, a spoutleading from the hopper to the tray, a cut-oii for intercepting a platein the spout and then releasing the same, a pusher for moving platesfrom the spout into the tray, a spring for retracting the cut-off andthe pusher, and connections actuated by the bell-crank for operating thecut-off and the pusher.

20. Ina [machine] device of the class. described, [a track,] a carriagearranged to run on [the] a. track, a plate holder mounted on thecarriage for compound projecting and tilting movements, yielding meansnormally holding the plate holder retracted, automatic means actuated bythe carriage for positioning and looking a plate relative to the plateholder while the plate holder is holding a plate under the positionedplate to be released, manually controlled means having an initialmovement for ope-rating the plate holder to release a plate heldthereby, and a final movement for tilting the. plate. holder. and othermanually operated means for projecting the plate holder to receive thepositioned. plate.

21. The structure defined in claim 20, further including means forconveying a release plate from the plate holder.

22. The structure defined in claim 20 in which the plate holder isreturnedfrom' its tilted position by the: force of gravity.

23. L1 a [machine] device of the class described, [a track,] a carriagearranged to runon [the] a track, a plate holder. mounted on the carrierfor compound projecting and tilting movements transversely of thecarriage, yielding means normally holding the plate holder retracted,automatic means actuated by the car'- riage for positioning and lockingaplate' relative-to the carriage and above the normalposition of theplate holder while the plate holder is holding a plate under thepositioned plate to be released, manually controlled meanshaving aninitial movement for operating the plate holder to release a plate heldthereby and a final movement for tilting the plate holder, and othermanually operated means for projecting the plate holder to receive thepositioned plate.

24. The structure defined in claim 20, further including a spring on theplate holder constructed and arranged to be placed under tension by theinsertion of a plate in the plate holder and discharging the plate whenreleased by said plate holder.

25. In a device of the class described, a carriage arranged to run on atrack, a normally horizontal plate holder mounted on the carriage, meansconnecting the plate holder to the carriage for movement in horizontaland" upward tilting directions relative to the carriage, releasableplate clamping means on the plate holder adapted to support a plate in ahorizontal plane, plate positioning means operative to position a platein a plane above the plane in which a plate is normally held by theplate clamping means, and manually operable means for releasing a platefrom. the clamping means and operative tomovethe plate holder in ahorizontal direction on the carriage and in an upward tilting directionto thereby dispose the plate clamping means in position .to'clamp aplate positioned by the plate positioning means.

26. In a device of the class described, a carriage arranged to run on atrack, a normally horizontal plate holder mounted on the carriagameansconnecting the plate holder to thecarriage lor movement in horizontaland upward tilting directions Number relative to the carriage,releasable plate clamping means on the plate holder adapted to support aplate in a horizontal plane, plate positioning means operative toposition a plate in a plane above the plane in which a plate is normallyheld by the plate clamping means, a hopper for receiving and guiding aplate released from the plate clamping means, and means for releasingaplate from the plate clamping means into the hopper and operative tomove the plate holder in a horizontal direction on the carriage and inan upward tilting direction to thereby dispose the plate clamping meansin position to clamp a. plate positioned by the plate positioning means.

3 27. In a device of the class described, a carriage arranged to run ona track, a normally horizontal plate holder mounted on the carriage,means connecting the plate holder to the carriage for movement inhorizontal and upward tilting directions relative to the carriage,releasable plate clamping means on the plate holder adapted to support aplate in a horizontal plane, plate positioning means operative toposition a plate in a plane above the plane in which a plate is normallyheld by the plate clamping means, a hopper for receiving and guiding aplate released from the plate clamping means, means for latching thecarriage against movement on the track on which the carriage is arrangedand in a position aligned with the plate positioning means and thehopper, and means for releasing a plate from the plate clamping meansinto the hopper and operative to move the plate holder in a horizontaldirection on the carriage and in an upward tilting direction to therebydispose the plate clamping means in position to clamp a plate positionedby the plate positioning means.

ADDRESSOGRAPH-MULTIGRAPH CORPORATION, Assignee of Percy R. Seward,Deceased, By J. B. WARD, Vice President and General Manager.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Owens Jan. 25, 1910 McCain Jan. 3, 1933Chisholm Apr. 26, 1938 Gruver Mar. 8, 1949

